Can Someone Tell Me How This Is Done?

I'm trying to figure out how this cowboy silhouette effect is done? Do I have to be an artist to pull this off? Is there a special technique? I'm assuming the sunset is done by painting color onto crusted white BC, but can someone correct me if I'm wrong on that?

I haven't tried the technique before but I think that is a FBCT, (frozen?)buttercream transfer. That would be my guess. I'm also guessing here, but the background looks like it is just smeared on with buttercream that hasn't been totally mixed, you could also airbrush it.

I have a cake in my photos that has the same type of sunset effect, and yes, I did it with crusted white buttercream and then painted it with gel colors diluted in vodka... Use a very soft brush though, otherwise you end up putting dents in your buttercream!! In my photos, its the Africa Cake.. I also did the silhouettes freehand... but you could do a color flow. Would probably work the best!!

I'm sure the sunset can be done on a canvas by painting but not so sure about the cake. But as Sarsi said, she have done it so I guess that would be the way to go.

As for the silhouette, that can be done many ways. Stenciling, Cutout then airbrush (stenciling also), painting with a fine brush, etc. But the cactus looks like it has some type of texture. I really have no experience in colorflow so I would say it might be chocolate or some type of dark royal icing.

Does anyone think it could possibly be an edible image? Its almost like the cowboy and horse image are level with the icing like an edible image would be. The catcus on the sides are not, so that I get. But the cowboy image is what gets me...